Intermediate segment degeneration after noncontiguous anterior cervical fusion

摘要

Background Studies suggest that the annual incidence of symptomatic adjacent segment disease is 2–3%. Because biomechanical studies have shown increased stress at levels adjacent to a fusion mass, some surgeons have advocated including the normal level in the fusion construct in patients presenting with noncontiguous cervical spondylosis requiring surgical intervention. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD) in intermediate segments in noncontiguous anterior cervical fusion.